Jats lead the pack at Commonwealth Games

Jats from Haryana have won 13 gold, four silver and seven bronze medals in various events.

The Jat community, which threatened to scuttle the Commonwealth Games and block the Games baton seeking reservation in government jobs, has turned out to be the nation's flag bearer at the mega sporting event.

Jats hailing from Haryana who have been in the news recently for female foeticide and for their support of honour killings have so far won 13 gold, four silver and seven bronze medals in various events. It is by far India's top medal winning state at the Games.

As Krishna Poonia, a Haryanvi Jat and the gold medallist in the women's discus throw event said on Tuesday at the international broadcasting centre, "Our community is more known for female foeticide and honour killings. But so many Jat women have won medals at the Commonwealth Games; it only proves what we are capable of if given the opportunity."

There are 50 athletes from Haryana competing at the Games, of which a remarkable 24 have won medals. The gold haul includes two shooting gold medals won by Harpreet Singh, a Jat Sikh. Seven Jat girls from Haryana and three Jat Sikh girls from Punjab have also added to the medals list.

Two Haryana lads Paramjit Samota and Manoj - both Jats - have entered the boxing finals in their respective weight categories and are assured of at least a silver, thus taking the tally further up. After the victory of Indian hockey team against England on Tuesday, more Haryana athletes are assured of at least a silver medal.

The Indian hockey team features four Haryana Jat boys - Sandeep Singh, Sardara Singh, Mandeep and Bharat. After the sensation victory against England last night, their fans back in their home state are hoping for a gold against the mighty Australians.

Other prominent Jats include Sushil Kumar, the current world champion and the gold winner in the 66kg freestyle wrestling category and Mandeep and Manjeet Kaur who won the 4X400 metres relay last evening. Sociologists and researchers said Jats - Haryana's dominant community - had always promoted traditional sports in rural areas including boxing, wrestling and kabaddi.

It brought home laurels, as Jats linked sports with good infrastructure and livelihood. Dr Pramod Kumar, director, Institute for Development and Communication (IDC) in Chandigarh said that connecting traditional sports with modern infrastructure gave a fillip to Haryana's performance at the CWG.